Emma Flower

Associate | London

Her practice involves advising charities on their governance and operational issues. She is described as ‘very impressive’ and ‘attentive, proactive and all round a great associate’.

Recent work includes advising charities and other not-for-profit organisations on registration, mergers and collaborations, the commercial aspects of transactions (including public sector contracts), constitutional issues and fundraising law. She specialises in advising education providers including independent schools, academies, Higher Education and Further Education establishments. She also acts for philanthropists, investors and sponsors of education-related ventures.

Emma is described as ‘very impressive’ and ‘attentive, proactive and all round a great associate’ by Chambers and is also recommended in Legal 500 for her ‘practical advice’. She was listed in the top 25 advisors under 35 by Charity Finance Magazine.

Emma Flower worked with us to incorporate the Association. We all found her exceptionally helpful – taking a proactive approach to solving difficulties for the client as the need arose. Her style is reassuringly confident and decisive, and speedy. The exercise, which was complex, was completed successfully and on time, in significant part down to her contribution.

Jeremy Candfield, Director, Railway Industry Association

‘‘

Emma has been a tremendous support over the last number of years and has provided essential and timely advice to our organisation as we continue to grow. As an Anglo Irish headquartered organisation Emma’s ability to work with multiple boards has been key to our success. She is a trusted and valued advisor to our organisation and Withers are lucky to have her!

Ray Jordan, CEO, Gorta Self Help Africa

Focus areas

Advising an education provider on the sale of three independent schools and the acquisition of two independent schools, including preparing all transaction documentation and carrying out due diligence.

Governance review of a large national charity with an income of over £600 million.

Carrying out the incorporation of a not-for-profit unincorporated association, including the transfer of staff, assets, property and a large membership.

Securing an Ofsted re-inspection for a school that contested the results of its initial inspection.

Advising on the restructuring of two charities with funds of over £250 million.

Advising on the merger of three academy trusts into a single multi-academy trust.

I count myself fortunate to serve some of the most exciting clients in the world - whose aims and accomplishments inspire me every day

Initially drawn more to the works of the Venerable Bede than those of William Blackstone, I didn’t actually decide to become a lawyer until rather late into my time as an undergraduate historian at Oxford. Whatever profession I chose, I knew it had to be something I could be proud of; now I count myself fortunate to serve some of the most exciting clients in the world - charities and not-for-profit organisations – whose aims and accomplishments inspire me everyday.

Working with charities means encountering the extraordinary, the amusing and the frankly surreal on a regular basis. I challenge any lawyer to find a client type more varied and interesting.

I work with the full spectrum of charities and not-for-profit bodies, from grant makers to humanitarian organisations, galleries and museums to medical charities, to name just a few. I also focus on acting for schools and education providers. I actually spent a year teaching in an international school; I’ve been a school governor of a voluntary aided school, run youth groups and I currently mentor students. Add a husband who is a teacher in an independent school and it has become a rather well-rounded interest.

In addition to learning Japanese, I love writing poetry and composing overly-dramatic piano music. I’ve also rather surprised myself by getting into running recently which I consider an antidote to my experimental baking habit.

In my spare time, I volunteer for African Caribbean Diversity (mentoring young people) and Christians Against Poverty (accompanying debt counsellors in supporting people in poverty in Peckham).